aileron

American  

[ey-luh-ron] / ˈeɪ ləˌrɒn /

noun

1. Aeronautics. a movable surface, usually near the trailing edge of a wing, that controls the roll of the airframe or effects maneuvers, as banks and the like.

2. a wall at the end of a roof with a single slope, as that of a church aisle.

---

aileron British  

/ ˈeɪlərɒn /

noun

1. a flap hinged to the trailing edge of an aircraft wing to provide lateral control, as in a bank or roll

---

aileron Scientific  

/ ā′lə-rŏn′ /

1. A hinged surface that is part of the back edge of each wing on an airplane. The ailerons are moved up or down to create uneven lift on the sides of the plane to control its rolling and tilting movements.

---

Etymology

Origin of aileron

1905–10; < French, equivalent to ail ( e ) ( aisle ) + -eron diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Airbus investigated this incident and found that space weather had corrupted data in an elevator aileron computer which sends commands to the plane's flaps.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

All major portions of both planes, except for the right wing and aileron of the PA-28, were recovered from the lake and held for further examination, officials said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 28, 2023

Lipsey said Christmas fought and won a patent battle over the invention of the aileron, a hinged surface on wings used to control balance.

From Washington Post • Jul. 20, 2020

He applied enough downward spin to create lift and turned a sphere into an aileron.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2018

For example, it is possible to do a 360° aileron roll in one second.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins